Football: Fifa's Valcke says confident Brazil will deliver

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke (right) talks with an engineer during a visit to the site of the Arena Corinthians stadium, which is being prepared to host 2014 World Cup matches, in Sao Paulo Jan 20, 2014. Valcke said on Monday he was confident that Sao Paulo's Arena Corinthians would be completed by the Apr 15 deadline in time for the World Cup's opener. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

SAO PAULO (AFP) - Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke said on Monday he was confident that Sao Paulo's Arena Corinthians would be completed by the Apr 15 deadline in time for the World Cup's opener.

"We are very confident that things are on track," Mr Valcke told a press conference after touring the stadium, which is due to host the Jun 12 opening match.

Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo meanwhile told reporters that the arena, where a fatal accident killed two construction workers in late November, was "97 per cent ready for delivery".

Noting that Arena Corinthians was initially to have been delivered on Monday, Mr Valcke said "a lot of work is still to be done where the accident took place". On Nov 27, two construction workers died at the stadium after a crane fell onto part of the stadium at it lifted a final piece of roofing into position.